Blue Jackets' Calvert Suspended 1 Game For Cross-Checking Pittsburgh's Kuhnhackl
PITTSBURGH (KDKA/AP) -- Columbus Blue Jackets forward Matt Calvert has been suspended one game for his cross-check to Pittsburgh's Tom Kuhnhackl late in the third period of a Game 2 loss to the Penguins.
Calvert will miss Game 3 Sunday. The NHL announced the suspension Saturday night.
Columbus' Matt Calvert suspended one game for cross-checking Pittsburgh's Tom Kuhnhackl. https://t.co/dHkqt2sBEV
— NHL Player Safety (@NHLPlayerSafety) April 15, 2017
Calvert received a minor penalty for cross-checking on Friday when he chased down Kuhnhackl away from the play and hit the Penguins forward in the head with his stick, which broke in the process. The NHL Department of Player Safety says it rose to the level of supplemental discipline because it was not a hockey play and fell into the category of message-sending.
The play prompted backlash online.
This isn't the WWE, Calvert pic.twitter.com/yQpMuDulQ6
— Spittin' Chiclets (@StoolChiclets) April 15, 2017
Looking at the Calvert cheapshot over and over, He needs to be suspended. No Question, He BROKE his stick on an unsuspecting Kuhnackl #NHL
— Bob Pompeani (@KDPomp) April 15, 2017
Why does the NHL allow garbage like this on the ice?!#Calvert#Kuhnhacklpic.twitter.com/tT1xmFtpd0
— Benstonium (@Benstonium) April 15, 2017
The penalty came with 35 seconds left in a 4-1 loss that dropped the Blue Jackets into a 2-0 hole in the best-of-seven series.
Kuhnhackl practiced on Saturday. Calvert was not made available to the media.
(© Copyright 2017 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
